LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Phil Mickelson is feeling a lot better about his longest winless streak in
more than a decade.

The way he’s playing now, it might not last much longer.

Mickelson birdied four of his last five holes yesterday to keep himself in contention for his
sixth major title, shooting a 4-under-par 67 that left him three shots behind leader Rory McIlroy
at the PGA Championship.

He’ll play in the next-to-last group today with Rickie Fowler.

“I’ve put myself in a position now where if I … play the way I feel I can and shoot the number I
believe I can, I’m in a position to win the golf tournament,” the 44-year-old Hall of Famer said. “
That’s what feels good.”

A couple of birdies on the front side pushed his score lower. Back-to-back bogeys after the turn
stymied his surge. Then, just like that, he got it going again, sparked by a 22-foot putt at the
14th.

“I needed something to get it going,” Mickelson said. “Knocking that one in gave me a little bit
of momentum.”

He kept right on going at No. 15, where a 158-yard shot from the rough plopped down 6 feet from
the flag for another birdie. The approach shot at the next hole was even better, as Mickelson
zeroed in from 197 yards and left the ball just 3 feet from the cup for his third straight birdie.
He finished with one more on the par-5 18th, just missing a 45-footer for eagle, his knees buckling
as the ball curled toward the hole but stayed just above it.

“It’s so fun for me to be back in the thick of it, have a chance, being contention heading into
Sunday and not having to get up at 6 o’clock in the morning to tee off — if I get to tee off,”
Mickelson said. “It’s been a nice change.”

Wiesberger stays calm under pressure

The 28-year-old Bernd Wiesberger surprised even himself as he stayed remarkably calm and
outscored his playing partner Mickelson by two shots in the third round to charge into contention
for the year’s final major.

Wiesberger racked up six birdies in ideal scoring conditions on a wet and receptive layout to
match the lowest score of the week, his 6-under 65 lifting him into second place, one shot behind
McIlroy.

“I know what I’m capable of doing” said Wiesberger, “I know if I drive the ball well and don’t
get ahead of myself, I can play good golf.”

Fowler hopes to break through second

Fowler is giving himself so many chances in the majors, he’s bound to break through one of these
days.

He has been the runner-up in the past two majors and was fifth at the Masters, so it’s not
shocking that Fowler is within reach of McIlroy.

The 25-year-old former Oklahoma State star from California, who shot 4-under 67 yesterday in the
third round at Valhalla. He stands alone in third, two shots behind McIlroy at 11-under 202.